Welcome to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

• Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
• Do a post about one book from your wishlist and why you want to read it.
• Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
• Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
• Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

Shadows by Robin McKinley
(to be released September 2013)

From Amazon:

A compelling and inventive novel set in a world where science and magic are at odds, by Robin McKinley, the Newbery-winning author of The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword, as well as the classic titles Beauty, Chalice, Spindle’s End, Pegasus and Sunshine.

Maggie knows something’s off about Val, her mom’s new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he won’t have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. But—more importantly—what are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggie’s great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.

Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. He’s from Oldworld too—and he’s heard of Maggie’s stepfather, and has a guess about Val’s shadows. Maggie doesn’t want to know . . . until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.

In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggie’s discovering the world will need both to survive.

Why do I want to read this?

Robin McKinley is the author of some of my very favorite books, among them The Blue Sword, Deerskin, Sunshine, and Beauty. She’s absolutely one of the tops when it comes to world-building, particularly when magic and mystery are involved. I love the sound of Shadows — the idea of a truce between science and magic is so intriguing! I really can’t wait to read this book.

Meanwhile, if magic, fairy tale retellings, and mythology appeal to you, then I definitely recommend checking out any or all of Robin McKinley’s books.

Quick note to Wishlist Wednesday bloggers: Come on back to Bookshelf Fantasies for Flashback Friday! Join me in celebrating the older gems hidden away on our bookshelves. See the introductory post for more details, and come back this Friday to add your flashback favorites!